"If Saturday was the day when Vladimir Putin won official backing from his parliament to introduce troops to Ukraine, Sunday was when Russia mobilised its military to attempt to win the new Crimean war without firing a single bullet."

He writes: "A week after President Viktor Yanukovych had fled from his post, the square had become a focus of mourning for the victims of the revolution. With the Kremlin menacing the new order, the bystanders clutching flowers were outnumbered by men in fatigues... thousands gathered to demonstrate a reborn defiance."

'Formidable weapon'

The Academy Award results came too late for the front pages - but there are plenty of photographs from pre-ceremony events in the papers

But it agrees it is a "formidable weapon to deploy", saying signs emerged over the weekend that the Kremlin would be willing to use its gas exports to Ukraine to apply pressure on the interim government in Kiev.

"Kiev's revolution is seen as Moscow's loss, therefore it must be Nato's gain, so therefore Russia must act," it adds, urging the international community to use "every diplomatic means at its disposal to rein Mr Putin in".

"Both John Kerry's threats to expel Russia from the G8 and the Ukrainian government's plea for Nato aid mark a dangerous escalation of a crisis that can easily be contained if cool heads prevail," he writes.

'Loose threads'

There's a warning in the Daily Telegraph from London Mayor Boris Johnson that Muslim children at risk of radicalisation at the hands of their parents are victims of a "form of child abuse "and should be taken into care.

Hawaiian words

Welsh and Cornish have had so little impact on the English language that they are less influential than Hawaiian, Turkish and Icelandic, the Times reports.

Philip Durkin, deputy editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, tells the paper the lack of influence of Celtic language is probably because the Anglo-Saxon invaders found the native population had invented almost nothing for which they did not already have a word.

By far the biggest outside sources of words in English are Latin and French.

Analysis by the Times suggests that households face inflation-busting rises to parking, pest control and waste charges this year as councils struggle to balance their books. According to the paper, several authorities are planning to introduce fees in new areas.

Reforms approved by Labour Party to change its historic links with the unions attract comment.

"MPs are right to say that one of the root problems with Britain's laws on the sex trade is that they send conflicting messages about who is in the wrong."

The paper says the changes advocated "tip the balance against pimps, traffickers, blackmailers - and men who use violence".

George's debut

Confirmation that Prince George will accompany the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to New Zealand and Australia in April prompts the papers to draw comparisons with his father's first visit Down Under.

At nine months old Prince George will be the same age as William when he travelled with Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1983.

A Kensington Palace spokesman quoted in the Daily Telegraph says that although taking a baby on a royal tour is not a first "there has been much to think about" and the need to minimise the amount of travel has "absolutely been in their consideration".